title: Dicer inactivation causes heterochronic retinogenesis in Xenopus laevis.
abstract: Maturation of miRNAs by dicer is required in vertebrates for normal neural development. Here we report that dicer inactivation in Xenopus affects cell cycle progression, survival and timing of the generation of retinal cells, resulting in small retinas with lamination defects. In particular, dicer inactivation delays the exit from the cell cycle and the translation of key genes of late neurogenesis, highlighting a crucial role of miRNAs in retinal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Decembrini
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreazzoli
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barsacchi
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cremisi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002470:Cell Survival; D020868:Gene Silencing; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000235:genetics; D012160:Retina / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D043244:Ribonuclease III